Date: Sun, 29 Jan 1995 13:43:15 -0500
From: David B. O'Donnell
Subject: OzQueer News
[ Send all responses to leto@WERPLE.MIRA.NET.AU only. Any responses to
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BROTHER SISTER - NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER
Are you an Aussie Queer living abroad but with nostalgic
thoughts of home? An overseas paper desperately seeking Oz
copy? Or a simply a cyberqueer who is dying to know more
about gay life downunder? Yes?....Then welcome to the
fortnightly QueerOz news update brought to you by Brother
Sister.
Brother Sister is a fortnightly newspaper published in
Melbourne, VIC and Brisbane, QLD, Australia. I have selected
the main news items as well as items of interest. If you have
any questions, suggestions and comments please e-me
(leto@werple.mira.net.au) - I will gratefully receive any
feedback!
NB: If you are an overseas paper and wish to publish any of
the following material, please print the entire story you've
selected and credit Brother Sister as your source. Thank You.
Brendon Wickham
VICTORIA TO GET REFORMS
Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has announced that his
government will move to introduce legislation in Parliament's
next sitting that will outlaw discrimination against gays and
lesbians.
In an interview with The Age newspaper, Kennett confirmed
that the legislation, originally intended to be discussed in
Parliament late last year, would be "up this session".
In October last year, the Attorney General, Jan Wade,
proposed amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act that would
make discrimination against gays and lesbians illegal.
The amendments were postponed when a vocal minority from the
backbench were influenced by a right-wing letter writing
campaign that condemned the proposed changes.
The organisation behind the letter campaign claimed that the
changes would be anti-family and result in gay and lesbian
couples being able to adopt children and getting access to
IVF programs.
Now, after assurances from the Attorney General that the
amendments would not affect adoption and IVF laws, only a few
backbenchers remain in conflict with the proposal.
Representatives of the Gay Men and Lesbians Against
Discrimination group are welcoming the Governments push to
introduce the amendments in Parliament's autumn session,
beginning on February 28.
David Studham, spokesperson for the lesbian and gay lobby
still believes that the amendments to the EOA are far from
perfect, opposing the use of the wording proposed for the
legislation.
"The current proposal to use the term 'lawful sexual
activity' is flawed and will not address the real issue,"
says Studham. "It will not protect those that need the
protection most of all, non-heterosexuals."
Studham went on to point out, "Lesbians, gay men, and
bisexuals are not likely to be defined in this term and it is
they that are the ones experiencing discrimination, hatred
and bigotry by some Victorian service providers, employers,
educators and landlords.
Although the amendments would bring Victoria's laws into line
with the federal legislation and the legislation in other
states and territories, New South Wales, South Australia,
Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital
Territory all have amended their Equal Opportunity Acts to
protect gays and lesbians, Studham says more change is
necessary.
"The wording, 'lawful sexual activity' is undesirable", he
states, "in that it constructs gay and lesbian sexuality as
an activity rather than an identity.
"People discriminate against others because of who we are s
lesbians and gay men not simply because of what we do in our
beds."
Studham claims that the current proposals being made by the
Attorney General's department will pose problems of access by
potential lesbian and gay complainants.
He says that the proposals are based on the Queensland model
which was implemented so as to prevent any protection of
paedophiles, which is unnecessary in Victoria as paedophilia
is already illegal in this state.
"Issues of criminal activity should be dealt with under the
criminal law not human rights legislation." Studham says.
"The use of the term sexuality would bring into line with SA,
NT, and the ACT and current proposals in WA and NSW."
The Attorney General is declining to reveal details of the
amendments but has promised room for alterations.
A new right-wing campaign opposing the changes has already
been threatened.
TAS POLL EXPLODES MYTH
Tasmania's Gay and Lesbian Rights Group have welcomed an
opinion poll showing that the majority of Tasmanians
disapprove of their government's anti-gay stance.
The poll indicates that 49 percent of Tasmanians object to
the state Government's handling of the gay law reform issue.
Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome said that the Newspoll
survey destroys the mainland stereotype of Tasmanians as
anti-gay bigots.
The poll sends a clear message to the State Government that
its confrontational approach does not have community support,
he said.
Croome also attacked the State's National Party for its claim
that an advertisement for a gay and lesbian dance party
exposed a "sleazy agenda".
Croome stated that the poll shows that the National Party
does not reflect the values of the Majority of Tasmanians.
There is also concern that the state's anti-gay group Tas-
Alert is trying to spread its membership into other states.
A national seminar is being planned in March to form a
national coalition of right-wing 'family' groups.
Their stated aim is to link up with over twenty other groups
with concerns in the farming and health sector.
LEGAL CANNABIS FOR AIDS TREATMENT
Cannabis is soon expected to be authorised for prescription
in the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Australia
The Federal Government seems likely to endorse a mild form of
cannabis for use in controlling nausea and stimulating
appetite.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration are hoping that the drug
dronabil, a tablet form of cannabis with the chemical agent
responsible for the high removed, can be approved here as it
has been in the United States.
The Health Department needs the co-operation of the medical
societies and the states and territories appropriate
authorities before it clears the drug for use.
PINK POST
For those who believe that Oxford Street is the centre of
everything gay in Sydney, think again. One Sydney suburb now
has a gay post office and it's not Darlinghurst.
Operated by Belton Fonti Pty Ltd, the Post Office, situated
in Canterbury, may be the first in Australia which is
entirely gay owned and run.
Former Australia Post employee, Tom Belton, started the
business with his partner of three years, Joe Fonti.
The post office also sells books, toys and stationery, and
Belton said that he would soon be stocking massage oils.
"And Wet Stuff, under the counter," he added with a laugh.
A contact in the Petersham CES was asked to send potential
employees sympathetic to the working environment, and
subsequently gay man, Rick Naickar, joined the staff.
"I didn't know Rick was gay when I hired him, but he told me
shortly afterwards. It's worked out quite well," said Belton.
Asked whether he thought the post office was part of the
growing gay economy, Fonti said:"Yes, in a way. It's
important to show gay people can do things as well as
straight people."
Fonti said that Canterbury had a large gay population, but
that being away from the city centre meant many of them were
closeted.
While the post office has no sign or symbol suggesting its
affiliation, there is a Bobby Goldsmith Foundation collection
box on the counter with leaflets.
Asked whether there had been any negative community reaction,
Fonti replied:"Not yet. Not everyone needs to know we're gay,
and there's a newsagency next door with four men and a girl,
all straight, but they talk to us about boyfriends and
things.
"[The company] would love to move into Darlinghurst, but with
counter sales being about 50 times what we get in Canterbury
that means the business would also be about 50 times more
expensive to buy."
In the meantime, the Canterbury business continues to extend
its product line and serve both gay and straight communities
with a smile.
'Sydney Star Observer'
STREET PARTY INJECTS DOLLARS
Over 60,000 people are estimated to have joined in with
Midsumma opening celebrations.
Three stages were erected for over five hours of
entertainment when Fitzroy's Brunswick St was blocked off for
a giant lesbian and gay street party.
Organisers of the event have described support from the
community as "wonderful", and were impressed with the co-
operation they received from the City of Yarra board.
Midsumma ran the entire event unfunded and say they came in
under-budget for the evening.
However they claim that they didn't "make a killing" as local
businesses benefited most from the busy trade that the party
brought to the area, as most shops, bars and restaurants
remained open during the evening.
Police report that there were no arrests on the night though
'Brother Sister' received two reports of anti-gay abuse at
the party, while St Johns Ambulance claim that the most
serious injury was a chipped tooth on a Mintie.
Although official figures are not yet available, the street
party is estimated to have injected thousands of dollars into
the local community.
Bill Saunders, of the Northside Venues, who sponsored the
dance floor, said, "The party was fantastic! It's about time
people realised there are gays and lesbians over the river."
Midsumma organisers promise that the closing carnival, to be
held at the Alexandria Gardens on Sunday, February 12, will
be even bigger and more spectacular.
GAY SEX EDUCATION
Australia's Teacher's Unions are considering a push for gay
and lesbian sex education in schools.
A proposal was considered at a recent union conference for
schools to provide positive instruction about gays and
lesbians to be taught at primary, secondary and tertiary
levels.
This comes after a survey showed that 59 percent of gay and
lesbian teachers and students suffer from verbal abuse at
school and eighteen precent reported acts of violence.
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BOTTOM LINE
Moonlite Activities
Three hundred people attended a re-burial service for
Australian Bushranger Captain Moonlite. The leader of a gay
gang of outlaws had made a last wish that he be buried
alongside his two fellow bushrangers. His two companions were
killed in a shootout in Gundagai in 1879, Moonlite was hanged
a year later for shooting a police officer. There was public
opposition to his request at the time and he was buried in an
unmarked grave in Sydney. Two Gundagai residents spent a year
researching Moonlite's life and finally succeeded in having
his last wish granted earlier this month.